Matches for "Andrew McCarthy"

CHESTER, PA - The two-year-old pacing colt Captain Groovy saw his bid to win all four of his Pennsylvania Stallion Series preliminaries look good for much of his race at Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday - until he got a bit tired late and was caught by $256.00 shock winner Keystone Dash in 1:53.4.
The Sweet Lou - Keystone Dawn colt Keystone Dash did dash away quickly at the start from post seven and had the lead well before the :27.1 opener for Andrew McCarthy. Captain Groovy, starting just to his outside, was patiently guided up to command in front of the stands, and his swift stepping past the middle poles of :56 and 1:25 seemed to have paid off as most of the competition had melted off by the far turn.
Most, but not all - Keystone Dash stayed connected in the pocket, eased out in the drive, and outpaced the Captain to the wire by a half-length, triggering the biggest win payoff at Philly since Thrillonthebeach paid $264.00 for $2 in September 2017. Far back in his first three races but better in finishing second against "nw2" company in his last race, Keystone Dash continued the improvement with the big upset for trainer Ãke Svanstedt and the ownership of Ãke Svanstedt Inc.
In another of the three $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, the Well Said-Bodacious Hanover colt Lake Charles took a lifetime best of 1:52, a clocking which matched the fastest posted by this group in either Sire Stakes or Stallion Series action to date. Jordan Stratton went to the lead with the victorious Ray Schnittker trainee by the :27.2 quarter, yielded to the brushing favorite Sandbetweenmytoes as that one took the field past a :56 half and 1:23.3 three-quarters, then moved out for the drive and went by a bit more easily than the ¾ of a length final margin may suggest.
Lake Charles is undefeated in three Stallion Series starts for the ownership of Schnittker, Dr. John Egloff, Max J. Hempt, and Steven Arnold.
The other StS division saw another colt remain undefeated in the series, as the Somebeachsomewhere - Temptation Hanover baby Patriot Nation made it two straight since dropping down from the Sire Stakes, here lowering his mark to 1:53.4. Driver George Napolitano Jr. used his favored front-end tactics, and after fractions of :27.4, :57.1, and 1:25.3 the youngster had more than enough left, defeating Hunter Hill by 2¼ lengths by trainer Andrew Harris and the partnership of Michael Goldberg and A Harris Racing LLC.
The Bureau of Standardbred Racing within the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission is the official tallier of the points earned in the Sire Stakes and the Stallion Series, but a quick, unofficial calculation performed after the last StS race today revealed the following nine horses with the most points: 1. Captain Groovy; 2. Lake Charles; 3. Lyons Music; 4. (tie) Cheerio Hill and Patriot Nation; 6. Paddy All Day; 7. Complete Kaos; 8. (tie) Sandbetweenmytoes and Sombodyitreasure. All eight of the Stallion Series Championships will be held on Monday, September 9 at Pocono.
From the PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia

MILTON, ON - August 13, 2019 - Captaintreacherous filly Reflect With Me established a new series record of 1:50.3 with a dominating harness racing victory in Tuesday's final of the Whenuwishuponastar.
A field of seven two-year-old pacing fillies clashed in the $50,000 series final. Round one winners Reflect With Me and Alexa Skye returned to action after a week off, while Somebeachsometime entered with plenty of momentum after a stunning victory in the second leg.
The opening-quarter saw Dr. Ian Moore trainee Kat storm out to the lead and post a :27.3 opener. Stablemate Alexa Skye tipped off her back entering the backstretch to circle to the lead, but that was short-lived as driver Andrew McCarthy started up Reflect With Me from third and the Tony Alagna trainee made a powerful brush to the lead.
Reflect With Me proceeded to put the series final to bed by pacing a :27.3 third-quarter followed by an easy-looking :26.4 kicker to win impressively by four-lengths in 1:50.3.
Kat finished second, while Somebeachsometime rallied from sixth to finish third.
"I've been pretty careful with her just racing off the pace and I kind of wanted to prove a point tonight and let everyone know how good she actually is," said McCarthy following the victory. "She's so slick gaited and smart and just does everything so easy."
A $120,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Reflect With Me has two wins and $35,800 earned in four starts for owners Brittany Farms and Brad Grant. The daughter of Captaintreacherous gives her conditioner Alagna back-to-back series victories following last year's triumph by Tall Drink Hanover.
A $2 win ticket on Reflect With Me returned $3.90.
Live racing resumes Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Entertainment

East Rutherford, NJ -- Tall Drink Hanover and driver Andy McCarthy were dominant in capturing the $100,362 Shady Daisy for sophomore pacing fillies at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Aug. 3). McCarthy used two moves to control the race and sprinted off in a track record-setting 1:48 performance.
Stonebridge Soul and Tall Drink Hanover exchanged the lead through the :26.4 opening quarter. McCarthy cleverly backed down the half to :54.3 with Tall Drink Hanover, and when Treacherous Reign and Dexter Dunn came on the offensive to try it first-over, McCarthy was cool in the bike keeping his rival at bay with a rated 1:22 three-quarter clocking.
Tall Drink Hanover was put into high gear turning the corner. Favorite Stonebridge Soul lost contact from the pocket, and second choice Warrawee Ubeaut circled off her cover but was unable to make up ground. A final-quarter sprint of :26 did the trick for Tony Alagna trainee Tall Drink Hanover, and she needed a light drive to hold off long shot Trillions Hanover. Warrawee Ubeaut settled for third and favorite Stonebridge Soul was fourth.
Owned by Alagna Racing, Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing, Tall Drink Hanover scored for the fourth time in eight starts as a 3-year-old. Tall Drink Hanover returned $9.20 with the win.
"I had all the cards in my hand," said McCarthy following the race. "I wanted to control the race and I got a breather in the third quarter."
"She's been good all year," said Alagna. "We beat a good filly in Warrawee Ubeaut last week and I was expecting a good race out of her today."
by Jay Bergman

CHESTER PA - Harness racing driver Andrew McCarthy was the prime producer of two-year-old speed during baby morning qualifiers at Harrah's Philadelphia Tuesday, directing two pacing colts to 1:55.3 clockings and a first-time trotting colt starter to a 2:01.2 win, fastest for the day on their respective gaits.
Goldin Kid was put on the lead by McCarthy and went on to a 1:55.3 clocking, punctuated by a :56.4 back half, for trainer Kelvin "Red" Harrison, also co-owner with Howard Taylor. The Art Major colt is out of Crazy Luv Bug, a $200G+ winner whose dam Luv's For Ever produced five other $200G+ winners.
McCarthy then came back with Tito Rocks, a Sweet Lou gelding out of the million dollar-winning mare Ticket To Rock. The 1:55.3 front-end mile of Tito Rocks included a :56.3 back half for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products Inc.
Loyal Fox Hanover was able to trot to a 2:01.2 clocking in his first competitive start, the Andover Hall colt out of Lady Luck Hanover (whose dam is Beat The Wheel) coming a third quarter in 28.1 raw to move into contention for McCarthy and then drawing clear. Chuck Sylvester trains the baby and is co-owner with Steve Jones, Mary Kinsey Arnold, and Paul Bordogna.
Although McCarthy got the quickest clockings of the day, he was not the winningest driver, as 24-year-old Troy Beyer crossed the wire first with four freshmen: a trotter of each sex trained by Julie Miller, and a pair of pacing fillies trained by Tom Fanning. Driver Eric Carlson and trainer Ross Croghan also combined for a pacing victory with a member of each sex.
PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - May 26, 2019 - On Friday night the Meadowlands hosted the second harness racing leg of NJSS for 3-year-olds.
The 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers raced for a purse of $20,000 while the 3-year-old filly pacers and the 3-year-old trotters all raced for a purse of $25,000.
The 3-year-old colt pacers race was held as a non-betting race before the regularly scheduled program. Once again the John McDermott Jr. trainee dominated the field in a similar fashion as the first leg. Daniel Dube sent Hurrikane Emperor to the lead from post position two and never looked back. The son of Hurrikane Kingcole stopped the clock in 1:52.0 with a 26 length lead ahead of the second place finisher Black Dan, Clintock finished third. Hurrikane Emperor is now undefeated in the NJSS and in his 3-year-old campaign for owners; Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing LLC, Pegasus Investment Group.
The second non-betting race was the NJSS for 3-year-old filly pacers. This week Mollydooker came out on top for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna. Mollydooker, daughter of Great Vintage, nosed out the competition in 1:57.0 with a last quarter in 29.3. Love Love Me Too was a close second with Hurrikanesky coming in third. Mollydooker is owned by Visionary Breeders LLC and has earned $69,750 for them lifetime.
The last non-betting race was for 3-year-old filly trotters and was held after the second race in the regularly scheduled program. Joe Holloway's Trixton filly Starita and driver David Miller took the $25,000 purse in a time of 1:55.2 and a four length lead over the second place finisher Special Honor. Miss Trixton finished a very close third. This is Starita's first win of the season for owners Val D'Or Farms and Theodore Gewertz.
The second division for 3-year-old filly trotters was won by the Nifty Norman trainee Evident Beauty. David Miller sat patiently with, the odds on favorite, Evident Beauty until pulling first up at the three quarter pole and surging past the leader in the stretch to win in 1:56.2 with a last quarter of 27.0. French Cafe was a close second with Sister's Promise closing out the trifecta. The Trixton filly is 2 for 2 in the NJSS and in her 3-year-old career for her owners Melvin Hartman, Little E LLC and R A W Equine INC boosting her lifetime earnings to $273,192 for them.
The last NJSS race on the card was for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters where the team of David Miller and Nifty Norman were victorious again with Reign Of Honor. Again David Miller sat back with his trotter to pick up the pieces in the stretch trotting past the odds on favorite with a last quarter move of 27.1, winning in 1:54.2. Trix And Stones was second with the second favorite No Drama Please finishing third. This is the first win for the Trixton colt's 3-year-old campaign, he has earned $223,125 lifetime for his owners Deo Volente Farms LLC, Jennifer Dalton Stb LLC, ThomasPontone and Kentuckiana Racing Stable.
The 3-year-old NJSS finals will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019, at the Meadowlands.
Courtney Stafford
PR Consultant
SBOANJ

Elkton, MD -- Post Time with Mike and Mike presented by the USTA/BetAmerica, is excited to announce the line-up for Thursday morning (May 23) at 10:30 a.m. They will be joined by Andrew McCarthy, Dexter Dunn, and Shannon "Sugar" Doyle.
McCarthy will discuss his upcoming harness racing drives on Sunday at Harrah's Philadelphia in Rodeo Rock and Caviart Ally. Both appear to be ready to take on stakes company as they head into their respective stakes on Sunday afternoon. McCarthy will discuss how they have been training and what he expects from his top Open horses.
Dunn, fresh off of a Confederation Cup victory, joins to discuss his champion 4-year-old drive with Done Well and what he is looking forward to heading into the Camluck Classic in London. He will also talk about his drive on Tiger Thompson N who is having a killer year for trainer Josh Parker. He will try to pull the upset against some of the sports top Open pacers.
"Sugar" Doyle, the announcer at The Raceway at Western Fair District joins to talk about the Camluck Classic coming up next Friday evening. The invites have been sent and it is a top race on the calendar each racing season. Post Time with Mike and Mike will be live there next Friday, with more details to come.
Post Time with Mike and Mike presented by USTA/BetAmerica can be heard live every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. via their website www.posttimewithmikeandmike.com or on the archive at www.betamerica.com/BARN.
Michael Carter
Social Media and Publicity Coordinator

When pacer Rodeo Rock won his seasonal debut for driver Andy McCarthy from an impossible spot, McCarthy began contemplating all that might be possible for the 6-year-old harness racing gelding.
"He kind of excited me that night," McCarthy said after recounting Rodeo Rock's eight-wide rally from last place in the stretch at The Meadowlands during the March 2 preferred handicap. "I finally got him out like halfway through the stretch and he paced on and got by a couple good horses. He won from a spot that he wasn't supposed to win from, an impossible spot.
"He was a good horse last year, but I think he can mix it up with the big boys this year."
McCarthy's excitement for Rodeo Rock led him to drive the horse in the Levy Series at Yonkers, where he hit the board in all five starts, including two wins in preliminary rounds and a second-place finish in the final. For the season, McCarthy has driven the gelding in seven of his eight races.
On Sunday (May 26), Rodeo Rock is among eight older male pacers in the $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational at Harrah's Philadelphia. The field also includes last year's winner of the race, Filibuster Hanover, as well as 2018 Dayton Pacing Derby winner Donttellmeagain and 2018 Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug champion Courtly Choice.
Rodeo Rock heads to the Commodore Barry off a 1:49 win in a Great Northeast Open Series event at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where Eric Goodell handled the driving.
"He's been racing great," McCarthy said. "He did an excellent job in the Levy Series and he just dead-set jogged in (1):49 at Pocono. I think he is ready to put on a big show on Sunday."
Rodeo Rock has won four of eight races this year and earned $264,400 for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products. Lifetime, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Electric Fool has 24 victories in 89 races and $623,055 in purses.
"He's a big strong horse with high speed," McCarthy said. "He can do it any way. You can sit back, you can leave with him, he can come first over; pretty much drive him the way the race goes. Robert Cleary has done a great job with him, managed him very good. He's kind of looking at the big picture."
McCarthy's workload at Philly on Sunday also includes a drive behind Caviart Ally in the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers. The eight-mare field also includes defending champ Shartin N.
Caviart Ally, a 5-year-old mare owned by Caviart Farms, is a multiple-stakes-winner whose triumphs include the 2017 Jugette and 2018 Milton Stakes. She has earned $1.19 million during her career.
Last year, Caviart Ally won seven of 19 races and earned $341,291. She finished second on three occasions to the Dan Patch Award-winning Shartin N, including in the Breeders Crown. She will start the Betsy Ross from post three while Shartin N leaves from post seven.
"We'll want to take advantage of that good draw; it's not often that she draws that good," McCarthy said, laughing, as he referred to Caviart Ally's two stakes starts from post nine, one from post eight, and one from post 12 last year. "We might as well make the most of it."
Caviart Ally made her 2019 debut with a second-place finish in a conditioned race at Pocono before posting wins in the preferred for fillies and mares at The Meadowlands and in the second round of the Rainbow Blue Series at the Big M. She was trained previously by Noel Daley, who returned to his native Australia at the end of last season, and now is in the stable of Brett Pelling.
Caviart Ally -- Lisa photo
"She's been terrific," McCarthy said. "She's a pretty big mare and she takes a couple starts to really get tuned up. Her last start at the Meadowlands was great. I think she is just going to be better going forward. I know she came home in :25.4 (in her most recent race) but I think she'll be even better this week from that run.
"Brett has changed her up a little bit. He's gone with an open bridle; she always kind of had a closed bridle on (previously). She's probably a little more relaxed now. She's getting the job done on the end of the mile."
Following Sunday's races, McCarthy will head to Sweden for three days to watch his younger brother, Todd, represent Australia in the World Driving Championship.
"It should be cool," McCarthy said.
Racing begins at 12:40 p.m. Sunday at Harrah's Philadelphia. In addition to the Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry, the track hosts the $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters and three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers. For complete entries, click here.
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
U.S. Trotting Association
www.ustrotting.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Two names that have been near the top of the driver standings at the Meadowlands since the start of the current meeting in mid-October belong to a pair of harness racing drivers from "Down Under", New Zealand-native Dexter Dunn and Australian Andy McCarthy.
Horsemen from that region of the globe have had an impact over the years at the Big M. Ross Croghan, Noel Daley, Mark Harder, Nifty Norman, Brett Pelling and Chris Ryder. Be they "Kiwis" or "Aussies", these trainers have done their share of winning at the mile oval.
Ryder uses Dunn, 29, on many of his horses, and among them is the talented 3-year-old colt Bettor's Wish, who is currently seventh in the weekly "Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace" poll put out every week by the Big M's media relations department.
"He's a family friend from New Zealand," said Ryder of Dunn. "But he's not driving just because I know the guy. He's driving because he's capable. I thought he might have trouble hooking on here when he arrived (about a year ago), but his talent and personality have overcome that."
The stats back up what Ryder says, as Dunn has won 86 times from 587 starts at the Meadowlands since the meet began. And thus far in 2019, Dunn sits second in the Big M standings with 65 wins, a total surpassed only by Yannick Gingras' 96.
As for McCarthy, he was the leading driver at the Meadowlands until he went on an extended vacation earlier this year to his homeland. For the meeting, he's won 50 races from 355 starts.
"Is Andy my primary driver?" asked Brett Pelling. "I would say that. He's driving my best horse, Caviart Ally, and when you have a good horse, it puts you in the limelight."
McCarthy guided Caviart Ally to a hard-fought victory in 1:50 over a star-laden Preferred for pacing fillies and mares field Saturday (May 11) night, an evening that saw the 33-year-old win the first three races on the card and four of the first five. He also drives Pelling's Reigning Deo, currently ninth in the RTTCFMP.
"I want someone who is focused," said Pelling. "And Andy and Dexter know enough to be focused. Dexter is a great talent, and if Andy wasn't available, would I use Dexter? All day long."
Pelling also spoke about the sense of community felt by those who hail from Australia or New Zealand: "We are here together. The Down Under people know Down Under people. And that means something."
BROWER HITS BIG: Dave Brower of the Meadowlands' award-winning TV production had a night to remember Saturday (May 11), as he gave his followers a hit for the ages.
After the nightly segment when Brower gave out his Pick-4 ticket for on-track and simulcast players, favorites won the first (Highalator) and final legs of Brower's $32 play, but what happened in between is what made the payoff special.
Somebaddude paid $100.00 to win in the second leg while 10-1 chance On Duty scored in the third. After Albergo Hanover won the final leg (Race 11), Brower's followers collected $2,028.15, good for a profit of $1,996.15.
The total Pick-4 pool was a typically strong $102,125 on Saturday and as always, free program pages for this week's 50-Cent Pick-4 - as well as the Can-Am Pick-4 (Friday only) - are available at www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.
SUPER HIGH-FIVE HIT: Despite the 6-5 favorite winning the race, one lucky player betting into the Oregon Express hub walked away with a huge score nonetheless Saturday (May 11) night.
The 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five, with the two longest shots in the field finishing second and fifth, yielded only one ticket with the winning combination of 2-3-1-10-9, and was good for a return of $33,010.24.
This Friday (May 17), the carryover for the Early 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five (Race 5) stands at $91,214.
PREAKNESS UP NEXT: The 144th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course is the featured simulcast event on Saturday (May 18) at the Meadowlands.
Post time for the first of 14 races at Pimlico is 10:30 a.m.
The Preakness, for 3-year-olds at a mile and three-sixteenths, is Race 13 on the card and has a post time of 6:48 p.m.
BEERFEST ON TAP: On Saturday (May 18), the Meadowlands will host its fourth annual "Beerfest".
The event, which is rain or shine, has three tiers of ticket pricing. For a $75 VIP ticket, you get admission, VIP lounge access, a special VIP food buffet, a tasting glass, exclusive VIP tastings and one additional hour of sampling.
Only 200 VIP tickets will be sold.
A $35 General Admission ticket ($45 if purchased day of) includes admission, a tasting glass and a four-hour sampling.
Those with VIP tickets will be admitted at 4:30 p.m. while GA customers can go in at 5:30 p.m. The event ends at 9:30 p.m.
Dave Little

CHESTER PA - This Sunday promises some spectacular racing at the two tracks served by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association (PHHA), with the Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) staging a trio of $30,000 events, for open pacers at Harrah's Philly in the afternoon and for mare open pacers and open trotters at Mohegan Sun Pocono at night.
In the open hanress racing pacing event at Philly, Rodeo Rock has been installed as a tight 7-2 favorite in a well-matched field of nine which will be the fifth race. The Robert Cleary pupil, to be driven by Andrew McCarthy, is one of only four North American horses to have earned over $200,000 already this year, the bulk of his bankroll coming when finishing second in the $664,000 Levy Final at Yonkers.
Starting just to his outside will be Donttellmeagain for trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick. A state favorite since winning the PA Stallion Series Championship in 2017, Donttellmeagain holds the distinction of being the last horse to win against 2018 Horse of the Year McWicked, and he comes off a 1:49 victory at The Meadowlands.
The two GNOS races at Pocono will come consecutively, in slots ten and eleven. The ladies will come first, with the 1-2 finishers from last week's first GNOS group for this group, Tequila Monday and Kissininthesand, ready to bump heads again and vie for favoritism. This will be the second start of the year for Kissininthesand (post one, trainer Nancy Johansson, driver Scott Zeron), last year's three-year-old champion, and she might be just that much better with a race under her girth.
But knocking off Tequila Monday (post six, trainer Chris Oakes, driver Tyler Buter) has never been an easy task throughout that mare's career, and might be even more hard to bring off this year, as Tequila Monday has started the year with five consecutive victories, and she has shown she can win on, off, or near the pace.
The World's Fastest Trotter, Homicide Hunter (1:48.4 at Lexington last year), is entered in the open trotting event, and he returns to the races both for a new stable, the Burke Brigade, and off two fine qualifying wins, the latter a photo victory over 2018 sophomore champion Six Pack. One big obstacle facing Homicide Hunter and driver Yannick Gingras will be the outside starting spot in the field of eighth, but he is still the early favorite.
Guardian Angel AS (post five, trainer Anette Lorentzon, driver Tim Tetrick) won a Breeders Crown elimination at Pocono last year, and in his seasonal debut last week at The Meadowlands he came from ninth at the three-quarter call to miss less than two lengths. Pappy Go Go, who has two of the four fastest North American trotting miles of the year, a pair of 1:52 wins both here and at Philly, has the advantages of post one and Pocono's top driver George Napolitano Jr.
Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association, in conjunction with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah's Philadelphia racetracks

CHESTER PA - Thisguyisonfire had the racing gods smiling on him today as he captured the $18,000 featured trot at Harrah's Philadelphia on "Trottin' Thursday", lowering his lifetime best by a fifth of a second to 1:54.2.
First, a chief rival of Thisguyisonfire, Golden Son, was a scratch, making the possibility of a crowded front end a bit lower. Then Perseverance, who was outside battling railsitting leaver and favorite Scirocco Rob, broke stride at the 1/8, leaving Thisguyisonfire second at the :28.1 quarter, after which he was moved to the lead by driver Andrew McCarthy.
Reaching the middle splits in :57.1 and 1:25.2, the victorious son of Yankee Glide was still in control, and when challenged by Rock Of Cashel in the stretch, Thisguyisonfire had enough to withstand the closer by a length. Chris Lakata trains the winner, now successful in three of his last four trips to the gate, for owner Richard Mishkin.
Drivers in green and white accounted for the two $14,500 co-featured trots, with both of their charges taking lifetime records. In the faster, the Yankee Glide gelding Tight Lines, in only his second start in six months, brushed to the lead in front of the stands for trainer/driver Jeff Gregory and poured on the steam from there, drawing away from favored Filled Donut by 5¾ lengths in a 1:52.3 mile for Jeff Gregory Inc., Jesmeral Stable, and William Richardson.
In the other subfeature contest, the Donato Hanover gelding Mosconi Hanover won his second consecutive outing, getting to sit just off a protracted duel between frontstepping Dream Massive and early challenger Sir John F and then catching the former by 1¾ lengths in 1:54.3 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner Christine Baggitt.
Tomorrow the world's fastest two-year-old, the filly Warrawee Ubeaut (1:48.3), will start in one of two divisions of the first event of the 2019 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes season, for sophomore pacing fillies; there will also be five divisions of Stallion Series action. In addition, the Jackpot Hi-5 carryover will be just over $17,000, waiting to be taken down by clever bettors.
On Saturday, the start of the Great Northeast Open Series headlines a special live Derby Day card at 12:40 p.m., with Crystal Fashion, winner of over a million dollars last year, topping the Open Trot in his first start of the year, and three-year-old divisional champion Kissin In The Sand also making her seasonal bow in the Mare Open Pace.
PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia
Jerry Connors

Chester, PA — Coleen Dowdall's Cruise Patrol ($4.80) earned his third harness racing win in four starts at the current Harrah's Philadlphia meet, cascading down the center of the track to prevail in the last yards of a 1:51.2 mile in Sunday afternoon's (April 28) featured $18,000 top-level pace.
The 6-year-old Bettor's Delight entire gave way to standouts Blood Line (Andy McCarthy) and Mach It So (David Miller) on approach to the first turn and was content to draft behind early splits of :26.4 and :55.2, only to be locked in by the first-over Nuclear Dragon (Yannick Gingras) up the backstretch. Just after Blood Line reached three-quarters in 1:23.2, George Napolitano Jr. found room to angle Cruise Patrol off the pegs in front of a fading Nuclear Dragon — but behind the 15-1 Rollinlikethunder (Art Stafford Jr.), who circled three-wide to pass stalled cover and challenge Blood Line for the lead turning for home.
As Rollinlikethunder struck the front off the corner, Cruise Patrol took aim down the grandstand side. In the final yards, Cruise Patrol lifted to the lead, collaring Rollinlikethunder by a half length. Blood Line narrowly held third over Mach It So, who was just one-paced up the open stretch.
Mike Dowdall trains 17-time winner Cruise Patrol.
In the sub-featured $17,000 upper-winners pace, Closing Statement ($2.40) issued a powerful statement, jumping from second-level conditioned company and completing a first-over grind to defeat Romantic Interest by a length in 1:52.4. Dexter Dunn drove the 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding for trainer Mark Harder.
The fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5 was again hit by multiple players, resulting in a $13,944.84 carryover to Wednesday's (May 1) card. Post time is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.
by James Witherite
Harrah's Philadelphia racing media

WILKES-BARRE PA - Spring In Paris, a sophomore daughter of Explosive Matter, went 3-for-3 in her Bobby Weiss Series preliminary action at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking one of Tuesday's $15,000 harness racing prelim divisions in a lifetime best in 1:55.3.
And she's economical in her energy dispersal: her total winning margin in her three victories was eight feet, or one length.
On Tuesday, Andrew McCarthy moved her uncovered on the second turn, then picked up the cover of pocketpulling Critical Hanover, who went to the lead near the ¾, leaving Spring In Paris uncovered. The gritty three-year-old just kept her mind to business and finally wore down her rival by half a length - the largest margin in her three Weiss victories. Steve LeBlanc conditions the consistent miss, now undefeated her four seasonal starts, for LeBlanc Racing Inc., Glenn Dyke, and Douglas Johnson.
The only other horse in this division to notch two Weiss prelim wins was the Cantab Hall filly Fade Into You, who moved to the lead early and went on to a handy five-length triumph in a personal best of 1:56. Fade Into You has now sandwiched wins around a break in Weiss racing, and must be respected as a Weiss Final contender for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Phil Collura.
Town Hall Justice picked the occasion of her moving into the Rene Allard barn to break a 19-race losing streak and earn enough points to make the Weiss Final. Driver/brother Simon Allard made two moves with the Justice Hall mare and lowered her mark two seconds to 1:56.4 while defeating Cayenne Victory by two lengths. Rene Allard is also the owner of the victress.
The Weiss Series $30,000 Championship for this division, in addition to a $15,000 consolation if it fills, will be conducted on Tuesday, April 23, and the unofficial top pointwinners in the prelims are: 1. Spring In Paris, 2. Fade Into You, 3. Lollipop Lindy, 4. Nicole Hanover, 5. Royal Esteem, 6. (tie) Moshannon Magic and Town Hall Justice, 8. Meadowbranch Vicki, 9. Run Lindy Run; Dawn Of Glory and Whip N Neigh Neigh are next in the points, in that order, and thus would be the AE1 and AE 2 "on the bubble" for the Championship, and likely among the top contenders in the consolation.
Tequila Monday started her five-year-old campaign with over $740,000 in career earnings, and based on her three starts this year, all victories, she may be as good as she ever has been, which could be bad news for the best of the pacing mare set. The American Ideal quarter-moved going by a 27.1 opener in the $21,500 featured for fast-class distaffs, made the lead, then went on to fractions of 55.1 and 1:23.1, finally stopping the timer in 1:50.2, with a game Eclipse Me N following from the pocket to wind up only 1Â¼ lengths behind. Matt Kakaley got the sulky assignment from trainer Hunter Oakes for the Northfolk Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

WILKES-BARRE PA - The Explosive Matter filly Spring In Paris emerged as the only female with a 2-for-2 record in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting distaffs after three $15,000 second round preliminary harness racing divisions on Tuesday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Driver Andrew McCarthy had Spring In Paris in second-over position when pacesetting Fade Into You made a break early in the backstretch, with the victorious filly briefly three-wide as her cover was fading and could not cross over, allowing then-pocketsitter Town Hall Justice to scoot through to the lead.
But Spring In Paris downshifted when she regained two-wide status, went on to the lead then held off the late inside bid of Royal Esteem by a neck in 1:57.4. Steve LeBlanc conditions the winner, now undefeated in three 2019 starts, for Leblanc Racing Inc., Glenn Dyke, and Douglas Johnson.
That victory completed a siring double for Explosive Matter, as his daughter Nicole Hanover won the first Weiss division by a nose in 1:58.4. The mare followed behind pacesetter Meadowbranch Vicki, then used the famed Pocono Pike to nip her foe late for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Bob Rougeaux III, and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.
Sire dominance in the third Weiss cut went to Cantab Hall, as his daughters finished 1-2-3-4, topped by Lollipop Lindy, a three-year-old who reduced her mark two seconds to 1:57. George Napolitano Jr. went the uncovered route with Lollipop Lindy in the last half, and the pair rallied by hard-used pacesetter Run Lindy Run by a half-length for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera and her owner, Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester.
In the top mares overnight pace for $14,000, the Stonebridge Regal mare Bye Bye Michelle was used hard early and late, yet still was able to defeat Ella Christina by a neck in 1:52.4. Andy Miller secured a pocket trip past a 26.4 opener and sat in the two-hole by the 56 half. Ella Christina made a huge uncovered backstretch move to sweep to the lead before the 1:24 3/4s - but her cover did not keep up with her, allowing Miller to move out behind the sweeper, then take off after her in the stretch. Ella Christina held well, but Bye Bye Michelle (favored by only $50 in the win pool over Ella Christina) proved the best at crunch time as she raised her career earnings to $371,225 for trainer Mike Watson and owner Clifford Grundy.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

WILKES-BARRE PA - The male trotters got their first crack at Weiss Series harness racing action Sunday evening at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with three $15,000 first round preliminaries seeing the fastest winner emerge as the Conway Hall gelding Hammer Creek, who nipped the heavy favorite Dover Dony in a personal best 1:55.1.
Dover Dony had quarter-moved after a 27.2 opener and went on to post nice midsplits of 56.2 and 1:25.1. Pocono's "Trot Man," driver Mike Simons, bided his time with Hammer Creek, then moved out just before the ¾ and aimed right at the leader. Dover Dony had gamely and still was ahead in deep stretch, but his foe was relentless in pursuit and got the decision by the shortest possible margin. Kenneth Hess Jr. trains the winner, who dropped three seconds off his mark, for owner Richard Ciesielski.
Although his time of 1:57 may not quite match up to 1:55.1, My Lindy Winner was also quite impressive in victory, remaining undefeated after four 2019 starts. Jim Morrill Jr., who teamed with trainer Rob Harmon for a pair of winners on the card, took his time with the son of Credit Winner in getting the lead, but once on top the issue seemed little in doubt, with My Lindy Winner six lengths clear after a 57.3 last half for the ownership of Vincent Laurenzo, Howard Taylor, and Thomas Lazzaro.
The Explosive Matter gelding Higgs Boson doubled his lifetime win total when he won his Weiss division while taking a lifetime mark of 1:57.2. Driver Fern Paquet Jr. sent Higgs Boson on an uncovered mission nearing the 5/8, and the winner proved more than equal to the challenge for trainer Dave Wiest, co-owner with Paul Britcher Jr.
Co-featured were a pair of $17,000 events for developing horses, many of whom should be a good bit higher on the class ladder in short order. First up were the pacers, and the winner was the Rock And Roll Heaven gelding Rebel Rouser, who had established a four-race win streak at Yonkers and The Meadowlands, then made it five in a row with a 1:51.3 victory. The lightly-raced but successful pacer (12 for 24 lifetime now at age five) was three-wide a good part of a 27.2 opener, made the lead just after that station , then yielded to a tough opponent in Shadow Cat, who took the field past the half in 55.4 and the 3/4s in 1:24.
Driver Andrew McCarthy roused Rebel Rouser out of the two-hole past midturn, went up to the leader and then asserted himself with strong stretch steps, finishing under a hold while ¾ of a length to the good of Shadow Cat, who took second over inside-rallying Ideal Wheel. Robert Cleary is the conditioner of the promising pacer, who is owned by W. J. Donovan of New England and Florida and Donal Murphy of Baltimore - Baltimore, Ireland, that is.
Andrew McCarthy also accounted for the trotting co-feature, taking advantage of a perfect pocket trip with the Kadabra gelding Mr Houdini and then holding off longshot closers by ¾ of a length while posting a clocking of 1:56.4. The combine of Ron Burke and Burke Racing Stable LLC / Weaver Bruscemi LLC added yet another victory to their unprecedented accumulation.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Drawing the outside post position nine proved to provide no problem for the red-hot Oceania in the Friday night harness racing feature at the Meadowlands, a high-class conditioned pace for fillies and mares.
The 5-year-old daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven-Western Cruise was in the early fray around the first turn and followed the cover of Dongal Rundlscrk N down the backside and never saw the rail until she made lead at the three-eighths.
Driver Andy McCarthy had plenty of horse power under the hood, as after a half in :55.4, Oceania paced her third fraction in :27.4 before a final-quarter sprint of :27 saw her hit the wire 1Â¼ lengths in front of an overmatched Dongal Rundlscrk N. Believe In Me was third.
"She was vicious tonight," said McCarthy. "(Trainer) Robert Cleary has done an excellent job in keeping her quiet and manageable. We are expecting this mare to mix things up in the open ranks."
Oceania completed the mile in 1:50.3 and returned $3.00 as the odds-on public choice to stay perfect in three starts this year. Lifetime, she's won 16-of-57 outings and earned $181,031 for owners Royal Wire Products and United Process Control.
CAP4 STRONG AGAIN: The second edition of the Can-Am Pick-4, a wager that requires a player to pick two winners at the Big M and two at Woodbine Mohawk Park, saw a total pool of $58,715, approximately $1,000 more than the debut of the bet one week ago.
The payoff on the 20-Cent base wager was $780.98. The winner's odds were 7-5, 1-2, 22-1 and 5-1, so like a week ago, shrewd bettors who had the one big price cashed in big.
TOP GUNS: Yannick Gingras led the driver's colony with four winners on the program, while Jimmy Whittemore, a name not-so-well-known at the Big M, scored twice with a pair of prices.
Whittemore, who has been driving regularly of late at Saratoga, pulled off a shocker at 37-1 in the third race with Bold Fresh before completing his driving double in the seventh with 9-1 chance Only Passing Thru. Both of his winners were trained Marissa Chadbourne. It was the first Meadowlands appearance of the year for both driver and trainer.
A LITTLE MORE: A pair of big carryovers await 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five players when racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m. The fifth race will start out with $71,880 in the hat, while the 13th race will offer $38,433 to start. ... All-source wagering totaled $2,355,837.
Dave Little

WILKES-BARRE PA - The ten-year-old classmaster Melady's Monet raised his harness racing career bankroll to $1,419,728 when he proved most photogenic in a four-way picture to take the $21,500 handicap trot feature Sunday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The final time of 1:53 was only a tick off the fastest trotting mile of 2019 on a 5/8-mile track in North America, posted by Jack Vernon this past Tuesday at Dover.
Assigned the outside in a field of six, the victorious Revenue S gelding spotted fourth for driver Andrew McCarthy as Chestnut Schofield left no doubt as to his intentions, opening a four length lead by a 26.3 quarter and keeping the margin at the 55.1 half. Melady's Monet started uncovered early in the backstretch and steadily gained, as did pocketsitter Two AM to the 1:23.2 ¾ pole, with Dog Gone Lucky joining the top trio and swinging wide in the stretch while Two AM went to the Pocono Pike.
All four horses gave their all to the line, with Two AM getting a brief advantage in deep stretch, but Melady's Monet showed his fortitude by thrusting his nose ahead on the money over his innermost foe. Chestnut Scofield held extremely gamely after the wild pace and was only a head off the win at the wire, while Dog Gone Lucky's backers cashed no show tickets even though he was beaten only a neck.
Melady's Monet won for the 55th time in his career in his journey to Pocono. Owned by Melady Enterprises LLC, the spry oldster is trained by a man who has had an association with horses who show grittiness and longevity - Herman Heitmann, the first trainer of Foiled Again.
Pocono next goes to post on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The following week will mark the beginning of the regular four-card-a-week schedule at the mountain oval, with Saturday and Sunday racing starting at 7 p.m., while Monday and Tuesday action starts at 4 p.m.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors